Is IT a good future choice??

[avx]

I originally was planning on pursuing a career in IT...becomming an IT professional...understanding how those guys in the CD-RW commercials feel...But I keep hearing that IT is in a bad state right now...What would be a better choice, if you think I should choose another one...I want to get a career in computers, whether it be engineer, IT, something...just as long as Im around computers...

[Force Flow]

First off, you've got to find out a little about the fields that are available. There's IT, computer science, computer engineering, and communications to name a few. There's also graphic design artists, sound editors, film editors, and other fields like that, but that's going off on a tanget.

Some collages call the fields different things, as I found out through my college searh. But, for the most part, computer science is programming and software engineering. CE is mostly the creation of the computer chips and boards in your computer. This is probably the hardest field to get into since you would need a lot of science and math courses as prerequisites.

As for me, I want to try a little of everything so I can see what I like the best, then go into that. Right now, I am very stilled in the IT field, so that would be easy for me to go into. If you really know your way around computers and how to build them, you may want to look into starting a small business. If you do start a business, you whould do better by selling support and service, rather than actual hardware.

Again, that's going off on a tanget, but that's the way it is in the computer field. There are so many possibilites. You just need to find out what you like doing, then see if there's a good market for it, then really get into it. There's no sense in going into something you don't like to do.

Hope this helps you out, avx487 :)

[Tuf]

As computers become more dependable and connectivity becomes more mainstream I think some of the lower end positions will fade away or at least be reduced in number. Which to me means you should challenge yourself to attain the most education you can in a developing field. You need to be careful that your eucation is not so broad that you have nothing specific to offer nor so specialized that you could become outdated by a technology shift.

When I was in school a fair number of years ago I was concerned that there would be too many engineers and we would become a dime a dozen. Actually the opposite has resulted, with the exception of one field there has always been a shortage of qualified engineers. This isn't going to change in the next generation or two, possibly longer.

An Engineer that graduates anywhere near the top of their class will have more opportunities than he/she can explore. A good education will net you a good life with a lot of control over your future in Engineering.

Computer Science is a field I know a lot less about but I have a few friends that have goen back to school over the last ten years because if interest and opportunity in this field. They have all done well and continue to progress at a rapid rate. I think it is worth looking into.

The actual hands on work in the IT world is probably not going to be as stable as companies banter between doing things themselves and contracting out their work. I think there will always be jobs but any particular one may not be as durable as one would like. While I enjoy working with hardware it is a tougher way to make a living overall.

[shazam]

I wopuld like to interject one thing, years ago everyone wanted to be a TV repair man. Today you can not find one.Take your time and choose wiselly. Good luck in what ever you choose.

[avx]

Well, Im going into the Military to get money for college, while Im in I am going to be going to their IT program, I am going into the Coast Guard, and they are one of the best when it comes to ensuring a good education. While I am enlisted I am gonna try and take some computer classes at a local tech center or university, I still have plenty of time to decide, but I just want to have a good outline to follow, I want to make sure I always have a secure well paying job. At one time I thought I was set if I just got my Microsoft Certification, but when I researched it, they give those things to anyone, I found a site called like geekcruises or something, you got on a boat for 2 weeks, and attended classes while on the cruise and at the end of the 2 week cruise you could have your certifcation...that worried me...so I am researching just about everything, I have always like computer games, and I think it would be fun to design them, I know some very BASIC programming, I learned some usng trueBASIC...the one field I dont think I would really enjoy is web design, it has hnever really interested me, and I dont enjoy it while Im doing it, but everything else I usally like to mess with and learn, but WD just...annoys me...

Anyway, thanks for all your input, every bit helps;)

[Tuf]

The military is a good place to look towards for education. My undergraduate degree is from Annapolis. If I were to rate the decisions I have made in my life, applying to Annapolis would probably come in first. My degree from Annapolis has opened more doors for me and has given my work more credibility than any of my further education has.

Even today with a substantial amount of successful design work under my belt I am credited most with my education.